Arab News Japan
TOKYO: Activists from Freeport, Texas, have traveled to Japan to deliver a formal complaint to Japanese financiers, demanding an immediate halt to funding for the Freeport LNG facility.
Manning Robertson of Freeport Haven, Gwendolyn Jones of Climate Conversation and Melanie Oldham of Better Brazoria presented their case at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, citing a pattern of safety failures, environmental degradation and a public health crisis in their community.
The group is targeting major Japanese financial institutions, including JBIC, NEXI, JERA, SMBC, Marubeni and MUSG. They argue that these entities have failed to conduct proper due diligence on a facility they describe as dangerous and unreliable. The activists pointed to an explosion in June 2022 as a primary example of negligence, noting that alarms were ignored for five days while leadership prioritized shipping liquefied natural gas over the safety of workers and residents.
Beyond the immediate safety concerns, the activists painted a grim picture of life in Freeport, which they characterize as a sacrifice community. Melanie Oldham presented data indicating elevated cancer rates, severe respiratory issues and reproductive problems linked to the concentration of petrochemical facilities. Gwendolyn Jones added that the community faces constant threats from methane emissions, water contamination and land erosion, all exacerbated by the facility’s unstable location.
The activists also addressed the political origins of the investment, arguing that the financing was coerced by the Trump administration through the threat of tariffs. They contend that because the Supreme Court later ruled those tariffs illegal, the entire energy policy underpinning these investments is legally and ethically compromised.
The reception in Tokyo has been markedly different from their experience in the United States. The activists reported that Japanese journalists and parliamentarians have been attentive and receptive to their concerns, with some reporters even traveling to Texas to document the emissions firsthand. In contrast, they described a lack of support from local US officials, whom they claim prioritize the oil and gas industry over the health of the people.
As they continue their campaign, the activists are calling for an independent investigation into the facility’s risks and a commitment from financiers to stop funding any further expansion. They remain determined to hold the companies and their backers accountable for the human and environmental costs of their operations.
The health crisis in Freeport is supported by alarming data, including a 2018 report from the Texas Department of State Health that identified at least six types of cancer occurring at rates higher than expected in the area. Residents also suffer from severe respiratory conditions, with individuals in their 40s requiring oxygen for COPD, alongside widespread reproductive health issues. These problems are compounded by the cumulative impact of toxic emissions from the 29 petrochemical facilities surrounding the town, creating a chemical soup that has left the community struggling with high rates of asthma and other chronic illnesses.
